The 2026 Dakar Rally delivered one of the most dramatic finishes in the event’s 48-year history, with Luciano Benavides producing a spectacular come-from-behind victory to claim his first Dakar crown by just two seconds after more than 8,000 kilometres of racing across Saudi Arabia.
The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider overturned a 3m20s deficit on the final day, capitalising on a late navigation error from Ricky Brabec to snatch victory in the dying kilometres of the rally, sealing the closest overall margin the Dakar has ever seen.
Benavides crossed the line second on the 105km timed final stage in Yanbu, just six seconds behind stage winner Edgar Canet, but it was enough to flip the overall classification and deny Brabec a third Tuareg Trophy. “I still can’t believe it. I never stopped dreaming,” Benavides said after the finish, admitting he was right on the limit to the final corner. “I kept telling myself it wasn’t over until the last kilometre. In the end, he made a small mistake and I got it right. To win by just two seconds is unbelievable.”